Linfield Holds On to Claim NWC Tournament and League Championship

KENNEWICK, Wash. – Linfield held off Whitworth to
win the Northwest Conference Men’s Golf Tournament on
Saturday and Wildcat senior Alex Fitch earned medalist honors at
the final round on Sunday at Canyon Lakes Golf Course.

With the team victory in the final league tournament,
Linfield was able to secure the 2012 Northwest Conference
championship in comfortable fashion. Based on an accumulated
point total over the course of the fall and spring, the Wildcats
finished with 31 points overall. Based on its runner-up
finish this weekend, Whitworth jumped up to second place in the
final team standings with 25 points, one point ahead of Puget Sound
(24).

Fitch followed up his round of 68 on Saturday with a 74 on
Sunday to finish with a final of two-under 142. He was the
only player to finish his tournament under par. Nick Kelly of
Puget Sound rallied to a runner-up finish with his total of 73-73
– 147. Dustin Hegge totaled 69-79 – 148 to finish
third.However, based on top-three finishes at all of the three
major Northwest Conference tournaments throughout the year, Hegge
earned NWC Player of the Year honors.Hegge is joined on the All-NWC First Team by Fitch, Jesse
Salzwedel (Whitworth), Kelly, Scott Martin (Whitman) and Taylor
Kopp (Linfield).

Whitworth had the day’s best team score, thanks in
part to junior Christian Boudreau who fired a 72 on Sunday for the
best score of the second round. The Pirates had four players
among the top 11 golfers. Saul Martinez (74-75 – 149)
finished tied for fourth, while Joey DeGroff (73-77 – 150)
finished tied for 11th. Salzwedel, who was the 2012 NWC
Spring Classic medalist, finished ninth with a score of 74-77
– 151. Boudreau (81-72 – 153) finished tied for
11th. Stephen Plopper (77-78 – 155) rounded out the
Pirate players in a tie for 17th place. Both Martinez
and DeGroff earned Second Team All-NWC honors.

Linfield earns the NWC’s automatic bid to the NCAA
Division III tournament for the second year in a row.